On November 8, Russia criticized the Netherlands, accusing it of "inaction" in not preventing a Greenpeace protest on September 18 at a Russian Arctic oil rig in which 30 people were arrested.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Netherlands was to blame because the Greenpeace icebreaker involved was registered in Amsterdam.

Russia has refused to take part in a hearing at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in which the Netherlands is seeking the release of the 28 Greenpeace activists and two journalists from pre-trial detention.

The 30 crew members and activists have been held in Russia since its border guards forcibly boarded their icebreaker after the protest.